Rotary intaglio printing



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L ATTORNEYS vA. WEISS ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTINQ sept. 22, 1936. 2,055,272

Filed Dec. 7, 1952 15 sheets-s116928V 243340 "l Y 'SV a .Law

L ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1936. A wElSs ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING Filed DeC."l, 1952 HRM sept.22,1936. y Awms 2,055,212;

ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING INVENTOR i ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1936. l A WEBS tROTARY INTGLIO PRINTING Filed Dc. 7, 1932 l5 Sheets-Sheetv 11v INVENTOR`W ZM ATTORNEYS v A sept. 22, 1936.

A WEISS ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING 13 Sheets-Sheet V12 FiledI Dec. 7, 1952www@ I lNvENToR ATTQNEYS y Sept. 22, 1936. A. WEISS 2,055,272

' I ROTARY INTGLIO PRINTING Filed Dec. 7, 1932 1s sheets-sheet 13INVENTOR ffm@ ATToRN Ys 55 the highest character.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED -sT-A'nzs` PATENT OFFICE 2.055.272 I fm,

` Application December 7, 1932, Serial No. 646,032 49 claims. '(ci. 10i-157) in the art of rotary intaglio printing, the mechanism has beenextremely bulky, largely in view` of certain inherent characteristicsnecessary in the art heretofore, particularly where a large number ofprinting cylinders is desired, and this results not only in consumingvast floor space but also entails other objections, in that the distanceof web travelbetweenprinting cylinders is great,

requiring a correspondingly greatlength of paper Also, the servicing andproper, maintenance of said machines, both'during and between runs, has

been difiicult and time-consuming. Among these latter disadvantagesmight be mentioned the matter of maintaining the desired supply of ink.of the desired consistency. at the printing surfaces and keeping theoperative parts free from `be coming coatedor gummed with ink.- whichwhen partially or wholly hardened is extremely sticky. Accordingly,fanobject of this invention isto 4provide a compactlmachine capable ofaccommodating the desired number of printing'cylinders, while requiringonly a relatively small floor space area, and one in which a wel?` pathof travel between cylinders is reduced to a minimum. and .having itsoperative control and adjustment means so arranged and in suchcloee'proximity that operative eifort is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide improved methods and apparatus for carryingout the same which permitsn increase'in operative speed of from 100 toseveral hundred-per cent. as compared -with current practice. while proding -work of Another object is to provide improved methods and apparatusfor carrying out the same which permit extremelyeilicient andexpeditious operative and maintenance servicing, and specifically withreference to inking and in cleaning the 5 l parts subjected to ink.

Another object is to provide apparatus -of the character describedhaving means for efiicientiy and automatically establishing andmaintaining the desired web tension. f i

Further and more specicfobjects, features'and advantages will moreclearly appear from the detailed description given below taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thespecification. l

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing theprinting end of the machine as ,viewed from what hereafter will betermed its control side;

Fig. la is a similar view showing the supply end 2o and is thecomplement of Fig. 1 to illustrate a complete machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the printing end of the machine asviewed from what hereafter will be termed its drive side; f

Fig. 2a. is a similar view showing the supply end and is the complementof Fig. 2 in villustrating a complete'machine showing in general thechief drive train;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 80 'intermediate the sidesof the machine in a pluralityof planes to-illustrate details of theupperprinting stageadjacent the drive side and details of the lower printingstage adjacent the control side,both as viewed from the control side;

Fig. Sais a similar view showing the supply end and is the complement ofFig. 3 in illustrating the complete machine; fr v Fig. 4is a plan viewof a portion of the printing mechanism illustrating one of the printingunit 40 Fig.`i'ris a sectionalview taken at 5--5 of Fig. 4 in adirection transverse the aids 'of the printing cylinder and Ishowing thecylinder and related cylinder; ,Fig.6 is a similar view taken at t-I ofFig. 4' adjacent the end o! the cylinder;

Fig. 7 (Sheet 3) is a sectional view taken at` 11of' Fig. 4 and issimilar to Fig. 5 with cer-j tain parts omitted in order to more clearlyshow certain features of the doctor mounting;

Fig. 8 (Sheet 3) is anelevatiorn of certain fea- A. tures of aprintinguunit'assembly illustrating 55 parts in elevation adjacent thevcenter ofthe 5f certain features of an ink housing anddoctor mounting;

Fig. 9 (Sheet 9) isa sectional view taken approximately at 9 9 of Fig. 6to illustrate the reciprocating mechanism for the doctor;

Fig. 10 (Sheet 9) is a sectional view taken at I0-I0 of Fig. 4 toillustrate-further details of said mechanism;

Fig. 11 (Sheet 9) is a similar view=taken at II-II of Fig. 3, toillustrate 'further details of the same;

Fig. 12 (Sheet 10) is a sectional view taken at I2-I2 of Fig. 4 showingparticularly certain details of the printing cylinder drive train, saidcylinder mounting and adjustment means, pressure roller mountingandadjustment means, ink housing and chamber with inlet and outlet port andink chamber fioat and control;

Fig. 13 (Sheet 10) is a perspective view of certain adjustment detailsof. Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 (Sheet 10) is a perspective view of a drive connection of Fig.12;-

Fig. 15 (Sheet 10) is a sectional view taken at I5-I5 of Fig. 1, showingfurther adjustment details of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 (Sheet 11) is a sectional view taken at I 6-I 6 of Fig. 4showing further details ofthe parts illustratedfin Figs. 4 and 12;

Figs. 17 and 18 (Sheet 11) are perspective views of certain details ofFig. 16;

Fig. 19 (Sheet 6) is a sectional view taken at I9-I 9 of Figs. 2a and 3ashowing certain features of the web feed drive train;

Fig. 20 (Sheet 6) is a sectional view taken at 20-20 of Figs. 2a and 3ashowing certain' features of the web tensioning brake mechanism;

Fig. 21 (Sheet 6) isa perspective view showing the said mechanism morefully;

Fig. 22 (Sheet 6) is a section atv 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 (Sheet 2) is a sectional view taken at 23---23 of Figs. 2a and3a showing certain further features of the web feed mechanism;

Fig. 24 (Sheet 2) is a view, partly in section, taken at 24-24 of Fig.`la and showing details of the supply roll mounting and related parts;

vention and taken in its entirety represents a machine embodyingfourprinting stages; While solid line 'parts of the diagram, representthe machine embodying two printing stages as specifically andcompletely, described and shown herein.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 32, the generalfeatures of the machine will first be described by way of introductionand in order to present a clear understanding of the general travel ofthe web and the rela, tive location of the principal ,units of thepresent embodiment of the invention, which embodiment takes the form ofa rotary intaglio printing press comprisinga plurality. ofprinting'stages each of which may represent a different color.

As viewed in Fig. 32 the right hand side of the diagram represents theprinting end, the left hand side the supply end; the operating controlsare located on the front side, and the driving means is principallylocated'adjacent the rear side. For a more detailed structural showingof the corresponding portions as similarly viewed, reference may behadto Figs. 1-1a and 3-3a.

The web to be printed upon,'such as the paper web I is supplied from aroll 2, from which it passes over an idle roll 3 and around a roller Iwhich serves to hold it into engagement with initial feeding meanscomprising the conveyor feed belt 5 carried by the driving pulley 6 andthe belt tensioning .idler roller 1. From here the web' passes over theroller 8 and thenin a reverse direction over a floating roller 9 whoseposition is varied according to the tension of the web to automaticallyvary a braking action on the supply roll; and then continues its path oftravel toward the printing end of the machine.

At Vthe printing end the web I passes over a roller I0, then upwardlyand between the rollers I I and I2, which are adjustingly yieldinglyurged together to provide a tensioning means immediately prior to thefirst printing operation, thence over roller I2 and beneath a pressureroller I3 which serves to urge the web into suitable printing engagementwith a printing cylinder I4 to thereby make the first impression on theweb at what will be termed the iirst printing stage, designated A. Theweb then passes to a conveyor feed belt I5 which is supported by adriving pulley I6 and cooperating adjustable idler roller I1. This beltconveys the web around the pulley I6 and thence to a second printingstage B, Where a, second impression is printed on the web in the desiredregistry with the first. For purposes of ready reference the printingunit assemblies at respective stages will be referred to hereafter as Aand B in general.

As many further and subsequent printing stages C and D as desired may beemployed, but for purposes of simplicity only w,two complete stages arefully illustrated and described in the detailed description following.

After the web has received the desired number i of printing impressions,it passes from the last stage to a conveyor belt similar to the belt I5and which will accordingly be designated I5'; and is carried by the samerearwardly and then forwardly to adacent the printing end of the machinewhere it passes around rollers I8 and I9 and on to suitable disposal orfolding'mechanism (not shown);

The structural detalls of the machine will now be described inparticularity, first the general supporting structure, and then theremaining structurein the order of the sequence of web travel throughthe machine.

Frame structure trol and drive'sides of the machine. 'Ihe lower edges ofthe frames 2I and 22 rest in' seats extending lengthwise of the base 20at respectively oppositeA sides thereof and lying somewhat below the topof the base and the frames are rigidly attached to the base such as bybolts 23. The

gsged position by rotating the same 180 and engaging the pin 50 inarecess 52 provided on the frames areinterconnected and bracedtransverse- 1y by a plurality of transversely extending niembers.including the tie bolts or rods, such as24, and other members whichwill be hereinafter referred to in connection with additional functionsperformed bythem. The frames 2| and 22 in the present. embodiment eachcomprises four parts, which will now be described.

'I'he frame 2l comprises the' rear portion 25- (Fig. 1a), which extendsthe full height of the frame 2l. the lower front portion 26 (Fig. 1).the upper front portion 21, and the'intermediate upper portion 28. Theportions 21 and 28 are Y supported from the portion 26 and rest upon ashelf 29 formed onthe top thereof, and are suitably secured thereto:while the rear portion extends upwardly from the base 20 and is securedl. along itsinner upper edge to the portion 28. The "1 parts arepreferablyof lightened construction' providing webs adaptedandpositioned to act as supporting and bearing points for the operatingmechanism; and these and further detailed structural features of theframes will be referred to laterin connection with closely related partsof the mechanism. .f

The frame 22 (Figs. 2-2a) is similarly constructed and comprises therespectively correspondingportions 30, 3i, 32 and 33 (see also Figs.3-3a5. It is to be particularly noted that the tops of frames 2l and 22are substantially flat, and in otherl respects provide shelf supportssimilar to 28 of frame portion 26, thereby to permit increasing thenumber of `printing stages by addirm additional stages such as C and D.

AMain drive-Web fees I able couplings.

From. the journal 38 the shaft 86 passes -rearwardly and is journaled ina housing 39 rigidly secured to the frame portion and`which encloses aworm 40 secured to the. shaft 36 andl adapted to be driven thereby; andthe worm 40 is in driving engagement with a worm wheel 4| positionedwithin an upwardly extending portion 42 of the housing 38 (Figs. 19 and3a, Sheet 6) The worm wheel 4| has a hub portion 43 secured to the innerrace of a ball bearing 44 whose outer race issupported ina journal cup45 secured to the inner face of frame portion 80 (Fig. v19). A shaft 45is freely journaled in the hub of worm wheel 4I and itsends respectivelyproject beyond the end of the hub and the face of the worm wheel' Thelatter end carriesa drlvingarm 41 whoseihubis rotatably securedto theshaft 46 in driving engagement therewith. The arm 41. at

its outer end. carries a releasable driving pin 48 resiliently urgedinto driving engagement with `tl-i'e wheel 4| by means of a helicalcon'pression spring 48 seated in a bore in a boss formed ine tegral withthe arm 41. '.I'he pin 48 isprovided with a cross Pin 50, .receivable ina slot formed in the outer end of said boss,` and a knul-led hand piece5I -which permit the pin 4,8 to be withdrawn from driving engagementandlocked in disenouter face of the said boss. It will therefore be seenthat the shaft 46 may be selectively placed in odriven engagement withthe worm wheel 4l.

The other end of the shaft 46 (Figs. 19 and 3a) carries securelyfastened thereto forrotation ytherewith a spur gear 53 in drivingeng-agement" with a spur gear 54. The .gear 53 is secured to its shaftina manner providing easy selective replacement for 'selectively varyingits pitch diameter for reasons to be more fully pointed out hereinafter.The gear 54 is freely journaled on a stub shaft 55 which is rigidlysecured to an.

adjustable arm 56 lsecured to a 'stub shaft 51, as

jby pin-means; and the shaft 51 is journaled in a boss formed on frameportion 38. The gear 54 is in driving mesh with' a spur gear 58 which ismounted on'stub shaft 51 and freely rotatable with respect thereto. y

The shaft 51 has integrally attached to its other end an adjusting leveror handle 58 which is provided with'an arcuate slot and lock bolt topermit of its limited adjustable movement and itsbeing locked in the.desired position. The reason for this adjustment is that the'rotatlonalspeed of the bear a certain ratio to that at the printing end,

e both of which are driven from a common shaft,

and such ratio must vary with different size printing cylinders in orderto maintain vthe desired vspeed of web feed relative to cylindersurfacespeed. By the means just described a gear 53 may be provided ofthe desired pitch diameter, to

effect said desired ratio, 'and byrocking the lever gear train at thesupply end of the machine should y 59 the spur gear 54 maybe suitablyadjusted selectively to mesh with respective gears 53 of varyingdiameter, and locked in such position.

The gear 58 is in driving mesh with a gear 60 secured to its shaft 6iforrotation therewith, and the shaft is journaled in a bearing 6Ia which isseated in a housing formed integral with frame portion 30. The shaft 6Iprojects outwardly beyond the vouter face of the frame portion 30 ofthe-frame 22 and on its projecting end carries a cone pulley 62 securedthereto and adapted to be rotated thereby. The pulley 62 is engaged bya. belt 63 to be driven thereby (see Fig. 2a, Sheet 4) and which passesthrough a belt adjuster 64 and thence around a cone pulley 65 to bedriven thereby and which is tapered reversely to the taper of pulley 62V and cooperates therewith for the purpose of providing a variablespeed drive. The

'pulley 65 (see also Fig. 23) is attached to the shaft 65 for drivingthe same and the shaft is suitably journaled in side frame portions 25and 30 and carries intermediate said side frames the roller 6 which isattached thereto and adapted to be rotated therewith. 'I'he beltadjuster 64 is carried by an'faxially movable adjusting shaft 61journaled in side frame portion 30 and having an end projecting inwardlyof its bearing support to which is attached a screw block 68, the screwthreads of which engage an adjusting screw 6,8 whose respectivelyopposite ends 10 and 1| are journaled in the frame portions 30 and 25;and the end 10 is extended outwardly'throughthe frame portion 25 andcarries secured thereto a hand wheel 12 providing means for rotating thescrew 69 to thereby niove the belt adjuster 64 in-a direction F axiallyof the driving pulley 62 and ldriven pulley'- to thereby vary theposition of the belt 63 forthe purpose of effecting a correspondingvariation of drive ratio between said pulleys. This ,Speed variation notonly aifects the linear velocity of the web feeding belt 5, which iscarried by the roller 6 and extends substantially the length of saidroller, but also affects the linear speed of (the web feed conveyorbelts I5 and I5', which are driven from the shaft 66 in a manner to bede-' scribed following. The feed belt 5 (Figs. 1a and 2 3) extendsaround the roller 1 which is supported on plungers 1.3, 14 (see alsoFig. 3a), which are journaled respectively in bosses provided on arms15, 16 pivotally supported on shaft-66, and roller 1 is resiliently heldforwardly of roller 6 by means of helical compression springs such as 11(Fig. 3a) to thereby provide the necessary tautness'to the belt 5 inorder that the necessary driving friction might' be maintained againstthe web to be fed between the belt 5 and its cooperating friction roller4. The friction roller 4 is freely rotatably mounted on a shaft 18 whichis suitably journaled frames, and by referring to Figs. la and 23 itwill be seen that the shaft 18 is one of the transversely extendingmembers which together with the tie rods 24 serve to brace the frames.

Conveyor belt drive Referring now to Fig. 23, the drive of the conveyorbelts I5 and I5 will now be described. A sprocket gear 19 is secured tothe shaft 66 and adapted to be driven thereby, and carries the drivingchain 80 which drives the sprocket gear 8| freely rotatably mounted on astub shaft 82 suitably supported in the frame portion 30 and carrying aspur gear 83 integral with the sprocket 8| and adapted to be driventhereby. The spur gear 83 is in driving mesh with a cooperating spurgear 84 which is .secured to and adapted to drive the shaft 85 which, issuitably journaled in the opposite side frames. The shaft 85 projectsoutwardly beyond the frame 30 at the drive side of the machine andcarries a bevel driving gear 86 adapted to be driven thereby. The bevelgear 86 is in driving mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 81 which iscarried by and adapted to drive a diagonally extending shaft 88 which issuitably carried in' journal housings (see Fig. 2a) 89 and 90. Adjacentits lower end the diagonal shaft 88 vcarries secured thereto a bevelgear 9| in cooperative driving mesh with a bevel gear 92 secured to andserving to drive a shaft 93 which is suitably lournaled in the sideframes and which carries the roller I6 which serves to driv'e the webconveyor belt I5. Correspondingly, the shaft 85 (Figs. 1a and 23) hassecured thereto and is adapted to drive, the roller I6' which in turnserves to drive the web conveyor belt l5'. It will be noted from Figs.2a and 3a that the power drive is delivered direct to the upper shaft 85and then downwardly to the shaft 93 of the correspondingly lower unit,and that theshaft 88 which thus transmits the power is projectedupwardly; and in this connection it is pointed out that provision isthereby made for adding additional units for additional printing stagessuch as C and D, heretofore referred to.

Before taking up the mechanism of the printing end of the machine-indetail, the means for adjusting the tensioning of the conveyor belts I5and I5 will be briefly described; but since bo'th of f `these tensioningmeansare identicaL'only one will be described in detail andcorresponding parts of the other will be indicated on the drawings bycorresponding numbers bearing the prime suffix Referring moreparticularlyto Figs. 3 and 6, it will be seen that ther roller I1, whichsupports the forward end of the conveyor belt I5, is carin respectivelyopposite side' ried on the shaft 94 supported in sliding journal means95 and adjustable in a direction transverse to the axis 94 by means ofadjusting screws 96 supported in seats 91 attached respectively to theside frame members as will be more fully seen from Fig.' 4.

Printing units Since the printing units at stages A and B are identicalin substantially all major particulars, only one of these units, i. e.that at stage A, will be descrid in detail and where corresponding partsof the similar unit at stage B are referred to, such as where certainparts might be clearly illustrated in sectional views in connection withunit stage B, such corresponding parts of stage B will be given the samereference characters as the parts of unit stage A supplemented by thesuflix prime to designate the respectively different locations in therespective units of stages A and B.

In the present embodiment the printing cylinders, such as I4, aresupported each directly by what will be termed an ink ho-using, and suchhousing and its means of support from the structural framework willfirst be described; and then the driving means for the cylinders andrelated adjustment means will be described.

The general position of the housings will be understood by reference toFig. 1, wherein the" housings are indicated in general as 98 and 98.

The said housings are supported between the sideframes in a manner whichwill be best understood by referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, from which itwill be seen `that the housingbase 99 (Fig. 6) is pro-" ing in lateralposition, (Figs. 12"and 15) as by means of set screws |01, to be movedthereby; the member in turn being slidable axially on a laterallyextending shaft |08. cylinder I4 is vpositioned with a portion of itsperiphery extending within the said housing and is supported on adriving shaft |09, and the respective ends of the cylinder are spacedinwardly from the housing end walls |03 and |04 and the periphery of thecylinder is spaced inwardly from the side walls and |06. 09 has a smoothsliding fit at the cylinder hub end I|0 and is provided with a conicalshoulder portion III which is seated with a driving fit in a cooperatingconical bore formed inthe cylinder hub end 2. The drive shaft has oneend I|4 supported in an inner ball race ||5 Whose outer race ||6 isreceived infa bearing recessformed integral with the housing end |03 anda thrust and sealing collar ||1 vsurrounds the drive shaft and isinterposed between the adjacent cylinder hub 4I I2 and the innerl faceof the race I|5, serving to distribute lubricant from the bearingrecess, A screw thread ring |I8 is in interior threaded engagementwithin the `said bearing bore and bears against the outer bearing racel|6 to hold the bearing and the shaft carried thereby in proper axialadjustment. Similar supporting means is provided adjacent the cylinderThehousing is The driving shaft The printing hub ||0 and the housing end|04 and such sup- 75 4 prevent rotative movement of said sleeve whileporting means permits' the axial adjustment of the cylinder with respectto the inner faces of the housingl ends |03-I04. This supporting meansfurther permits easy removal of. the cylinder |4 for purposes of changeof' printing design or change of cylinder size. In such removal the ring||8 is removed and the drive shaft ||4 may be then pulled out ofthecylinder |4 in orden to lift the cylinderout of the housing. Tofacilitate such removal I have provided asustaining lugs ||9 (see alsoFig. 6) on respective housing ends |03 and |04, said lugs being spacedslightly below the normal position of the cylinder hub ends ||0 and sothat innormal operation they create no friction but as soon as ,thedriving shaft is removed they serve to supportl the cylinder Within thehousing. The rounded/upper surfaces of lugs I9 permit ink drainage. Thedorive shaft |09, as will bemore fully pointed out following, engagesits driving train by means of a sliding key connection which permits theremoval above described and which furthermore permits the axialadjustment movement of the housing and cylinder now to be described. l

Cylinder drive and adjustment The housing adjustable hollow shaft |0|(Figs. 12 and 15) extends outwardly through the frame 2| and is suitablysupported at its outer end in a journal housing |20 and is provided withan exterior threaded portion |2| in threaded engagement with thesurrounding worm wheel screw block |22, also suitably journaled in saidhousing |20. The worm wheel |22'is in driving mesh with the 'worm |23attached to the end of the shaft |24 and adapted to be driven thereby.The shaft |24 carries on its upper end a bevel gear |25 in driving meshwith the corresponding bevel gear |26 secured to a stub shaft |21 whichis suitably journaled in the frame 2| and housing |20 and is provided atits outer end with a control or a hand wheel |28. It will therefore beseen that by rotating the hand wheel |28 movement i`s transmittedthrough the bevel gears,ls haft |24 and the worm and wheel driventhereby, causing theA Worm wheel |22, which'is in interior threadedengagement with thehollow shaft |0|, to move the said shaft axially andthereby to move the housing together with the cylinder carried therebyin adirection axial of said cylinder. `Axial adjustf ment of 'thecylinder is desirable for purposes -of accurate 'registration of. thedesign to, Be printed; and furthermore, circumferential adjustment ofthe cylinder about' its axis is desirable for a like reason. Meansvforsuch circumferential adjust` ment will now be discussed. y

The shaft |08 extends outwardly beyond the housing |20 and ,carries onits projecting end a hand -wheel |29 by means of which the shaft may berotated freely within its supporting hollow shaft |0|. The other end ofsaid shaft |08'projects outwardly through the side frame 22 in which itis suitably journaled for support as by a journal boss |30 and cariessecured thereto a spur gear 3| which is rotatedl upon rotation of theshaft |08. A second control wheel |32 is secured to this'end ofthe shaftlto provide for rotation of the shaft from either side of the machine.The gear |3I'is'in mesh with an inter-` mediate gear |33 (see also Fig.2*), and the gear |33 is in driving mesh with a'spur gear |34 which isprovided with interior screw threads in co,- operative'enga'gement withexternal. threads of a vscrew sleeve |35. The screw sleeve |35 is plosi-Vtioned within suitable housing means |36 which `threaded ring |4|.

permitting axial movement thereof; and said housing means also -servesto restrict axial movement of the spur gear 34.f. The sleeve |35 issupported on a bearing |31 whose outer raceis clamped within a bore ofsaid sleeve by means of a clamping ring |38. ,The inner race |39 of saidbearing-is securely clamped to the outer end of a driving sleeve |40 bymeans of a screw The driving sleeve |40 is illustrated in Fig. 14 fromwhichit will be seen that it is provided with an axial smooth bore |42having an axially extending keyway in which is seated a key |43, and theexterior surface of said sleeve is provided with a steep pitch helicalspline, comprising in the present embodiment two grooves such as |44 andtwo tongues such as |45.- The bore |42 isfof such size as to permit asliding fit on the driven end of the cylinder` drive shaft |09 whichdsprovidedv with an axially extending lreyvxray for accommodating the key|43. The helical spline on the exterior of the driving connection M0engages a corresponding shaft |09 by means of the cooperatinghelicalsplines of said gear and sleeve, the rotation of said connectingsleeve will act to advance or retard the. shaft |09, and the cylinder I4carried thereby, relative to the driving gear |41A and its drivingtrain. The means of circumferential adjustment of the cylinder |4 justde.- scribed is' primarily for the purpose of effecting relatively neadjustments; and in order to provide additional adjustment adaptedforrelatively more extensive or coarse adjustments, the followingprovision is made. Thelub |46 is provided with a flange |48, to whichgear teeth rings |49 and |50 are adjustably attached by means.

of screws@ |5|; access to said screws being had through openings such as|52 provided in the housingmeans |36 (see also Fig. 2). By thismeanshthe gear ring parts |49 and |50 may be adjusted .cirfcumferentiallyrelative to the gear hub |46 to provide for any degree of adjustmentdesired. 'Ihis coarse adjustment necessarilyis made while the machine isshut down and serves to adjust the cylinder circumferentially/ to effectapproximate' adjustment; while the fine adjustment may be effectedvwhile themachine is operating and serves to istration.

The gear |41,l which is of herringbone type, (Fig. 9) is in driving meshwith a similarly formed gear |53, having a hub |54 which is journaled ina suitable bearing |55 supported by the side frame 22. The gear |53 iskeyed to 'a stub shaft |56 which projects outwardly therefrom and hasits outerend journaled in a bearing |51 suitably provide for accuratereg-.m

supported'by housing means |58 lsecurely buti'emovably attached to the'said supporting frame l22. 'The shan lss intermedlatethe bearing Islwith a cooperating. worm |60 which is keyed to the forward lend ,of themain drive shaft 38 (Fig. 2)

Doctor reciprocating mechanism Before describing the doctor mounting,its reciprocating mechanism will iirst be described since it is closelyassociated with the drive train |65 normally forming an integral part ofthe housing frame 22. The gear |63 is keyed to astub shaft |66 'whichextends outwardly beyond said cover plate and has its outer endJournaled in a bracket housing |61 rigidly attached to the housing endwall |06. 'The end of the shaft |66 extends within said bracket andcarries attached thereto for rotation therewith a worm |66 (Fig. 10)which is in driving mesh with a worm wheel |66 carried by an upwardlyprojecting shaft |10 which is also journaled in said housing bracket |61and carrying on its upper outwardly projecting end a worm |1| adapted tobe rotated therebyand in driving mesh with a worm wheel |12 which iscarried by and serves to' drive a stub shaft |16 journaled in a bracket|16 which is formed integral with the doctor supporting structure-to behereinafter described. The shaft |16 carries adjacent its opposite endand adapted to be driven thereby a spur gear |15 which is in drivingmesh with a cooperating spur |16 carried by a suitably journaled doctorreciprocating shaft |11 which is driven thereby and which carriesintermediate its ends a barrel cam |16 provided with a canrgroove |16 inwhich is cooperatively seated a cam roller |60 which is carried on a campin |6| rigidly carried by the parts to be reciprocated, which will nowbe described in commotion with the manner in which the doctor ismounted.

In this connection it is pointed out that the cam groove |16 is sopositioned and formed as to provide a straight-line motion of thedoctor, i. e. so that the rate of travel of the doctor is uniformthroughout substantially its full travel. 'I'his is contrary to currentpractice, in which the doctor reciprocations slow down considerablybefore reversal of direction and speed up appreciably inv themiddle ofthe stroke. The result of such motion is that during approximatelyone-half of the period of reciprocation the doctor knife is practicallyat a dwell. As a result, portions of the doctor are worn rapidly andunequally due to the unequal time of engagement of thewiping edge of thedoctor with deeply `etched areas of the printing cylinder which oiierlittle orr no support for the doctor. In the present invention theimproved manner of reciprocating the doctor provides a uniform motionand the reduction in speed at or near the end of the stroke of thedoctor before reversal is reduced to a minimum, and accordingly thedoctor knife constantly -changes its position with respect to the etchedvolatile ink ingredients from the ink housing in order to materiallyretard and preferably prevent evaporation of the ink. `ll'hisls ofextreme importance not only when highly volatile or rapidly drying inksare employed, as is contemplated in practicingthe invention in itspresent preferred form, but also when relatively less volatile inks areemployed, since evenin relatively less volatile inks there are certainingredients which are readily volatile, and it is the elimina-'- tion orescape from the inks of these readily volatile agents which is one ofthe serious drawbacks in the art of printing as t is practiced ingeneral today. In other words, it is to be clearly understood that whilethe present preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the useof extremely highly volatile inks, nevertheless the invention has alsoproven of great merit when employed in the use oi inks of the characterin general use today. One of the difilculties in re-l tarding, and moreparticularly in substantially preventing, the escape of volatileingredients from the ink housing is encountered where a reciprocatingvdoctor is employed; and since the use of a reciprocating doctor ishighly desirable, if not necessary, to produce the best possible resultsin printing, the provision to maintain a seal with the reciprocatingdoctor is an important feature of theinvention.`

Referring again to Fig. 9 and 'to Figs. 5 and 6.

with an outer wall flange |66 (Fig. 6) which is in close fittingengagement with a housing side wall portion |66 which is in closefitting engagement with the inkY housing side wall |06 and forms anupwardly extending continuation of the same. The wall portion |66v isintegrally attached to supporting arms |66 which are 'pivotally mountedon the shaft |02. The supporting member |66,l

the side wall portion |65, the ink housing end walls |06 and |06 and theside wall |06 are positioned and arranged in sealing -contiguity inorder to retard and substantially prevent the evaporation of ink. Thereciprocable doctor slide |62 carries integrally attached theretobrackets |61 and |66 in which'are respectively secured hinge pins |66and |60 which pivotally sup- `port brackets |6| and |62 to which issecured a doctor |66 by means of the clamping members |66 and |65 andthe clamping screw means |66 and' |61 which are provided withknurled'heads to permit ready removal of the doctor which is furtherheld in position between its clamping bars |66 and |66 as by means of abolt connection |66 (Fig. 4). The brackets |6| and |62 are provided withVupwardly extending arms terminating in bosses serving to supportrespective rollers |66 and 200 which engage vand are adapted to roll onrespective plunger caps 20| and 202 which are urged outwardly by.helical compression springs such as 206 (Fig. 6)4 held in position bysuitable centering means and provided with adjusting means such as 206by means of which the degree of compression may be regulated in thewiping pressureof' the operating edge of the doctor; said compressionmeans serving to urge the edge of the doctor |66 into operativeengagement with the peripheral surface of the printing roll such as 4(Figs. 5 and 6). To disengage the operating edge of the doctor |93 fromits contact with the surface of the printing cylinder |4, the followingmeans is provided; `referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 9. An arm 205is secured rigidly to the reciprocating doctor slide |82 and carries inthreaded engagement therewith an adjusting screw 206 which is adapted toengage i a cooperating arm"20'| rigidly secured to .the

f surfaceof the printing cylinder.

' doctor and its clampingbars (Fig. 7) by suitable means such as thescrew 208. By screwing the screw 206 downwardly the shoulder thereofbears on the arm 201 causing the doctor |93 to rotate about its pivotpins |89|90 to thereby disengage the operating 4edg'e of the doctor fromthe The doctor slide supporting bracket |83 is adjustably secured to itssupporting side wall portion |85, as heretofore pointed out, by suitableclamp screws sch as 209 (Fig. which pass through vertical slots in thesaid wall portion |85 and are in screw threaded engagement with the.member |83.

Means for adjusting the member |83 in an `upward and downward direction,such as to accomlmodate the position of the doctor for printingcylinders of varying sizes, (Fig. 5) comprise an adjusting screw 2| 0 inthreaded'engagement with a screw boss 2| formed in the member |83intermediate its ends and saidscrew'being provided with a thrust spoolhead 2|2 engaged by a thrust bearing 2|3 which is rigidly attached tothe side wall portion |85. It will therefore be seen that with theclamping screws 209 loosened, the member |83 and the parts carriedthereby may be f' housing or'in the removal ofthe printing cyl inder,the doctor blade together with its closely related reciprocating anddriving mechanism which are carried by the supporting member |83, whichis in turn supported by the pivoted side wall portion |85, may be swungoutwardly "as can best be appreciated from Figs.V 8 and 10, in which therelative positions of the above mechanism in its closed and openpositionare indicated respectively in full and dotted lines.

The worm is of suillcient'length topermit proper driving mesh with theworm wheel |12 throughout the limits of adjustment of the memeber |83.When the wall portion I85is swung l down this driving engagement isbroken, but

when the wall portion is returned to operative position the drivingengagement is restored.

Suitable releasable clamp means (Figs. 3, 4, 8 i

' and 11) are provided for holding the parts closed for permitting themovement of the same and clamping screw '2|1 provided with an outer eye"end serving ,to pivotally support a locking cam 2|8 provided with ahandle portion 2|9; the locking cam on each end ot Athe housing beingcooperatively disposed adjacent to a respective boss such as 220, one ofwhich is positioned adjacent cachot the supporting arms |86.

-these comprise trunnion bearings such as .2|5-

Further structure to effect the desired sealing of the ink housing incooperation with parts previously described will now be pointed out,with reference particularly to Figs.v 4, 6 and 9. The doctor" |93extends beyond the respective ends of the .printing cylinder |4 in amanner illustrated in Fig. 9,- from which it willbe seen that as viewedin said ligure the doctor is positioned at the end of its stroke totherightf The extended portions ofthe doctor engage respective end blocks22| and 222 which are in respective sealing contiguity with the endwalls |03 and |04 and serve to bridge the space between the said endwalls and respective adjacent ends of the cylinder, thereby in eifectproviding inwardly extending projections of said end walls. A ilexiblesealing strip 223 (see also Fig. 6) is clamped to the upper edge'of thebracket |83 by means section as to be held in intimate sealingengagenient throughoutthe length of said doctor for a substantialportion of the width of said doctor. y

The opposite ends of the sealing strip 223 (Fig. 9) lie suillcientlyclosely adjacent respective end walls |03 and |04 to effect an operatingseal with said end walls and the lower edges of the ends of said striplie in sealing engagementwith arcuate surfaces of the respective endblock.A 22| and 222. 'I'he median portion lof the lower edge of saidsealing strip is cut away as at 225 in` order to space vthe edge of thesame away from the periphery of the printing cylinder throughout thislength of said cylinder'to thereby permit and assure positive andemcient contact between the active edge of the doctor |93. and theprinting cylinder such as |'4. It will therefore be seen' that the saidsealing strip and said doctor jointly serve to effectively seal thespace bounded by the bracket |03,which in effect forms an inwardly4extending projection of the side wall of' said ink`housing, the endwalls |03 and |04 and the i of a clampingstrip 224/and is so formed incross end block 22|, cylinder |4 andY end block 222.

It is to be particularly noted that this sealing condition is maintainedduring the operative reciprocation of the doctor.

`The end blocks 22| and 222 areconstructedas .illustrated in Fig. 17.from which it will be seen that each block i's provided with a at endwall 228 having a cut-away portion 221 to provide a clearancefor thehubof cylinder |4, and an upper arcuate wall portion v228 of acurvature' similar to the curvature of printing cylinderI with which theblock is' adapted to be used. It will lee-understood that the pair ofblocks for usel with 'a given cylinder are preferablyespecially designedfor 'the particular size cylinder with which they are to cooperate. Thisis desirable' 4 in order to place the-inwardly projecting arcuate' angesofv the blocks in'proper sealing contiguity with the respective cylinderAends and to vprovideA a continuous straight line support for the doctorand .cooperating sealing strip.' However, to obviate the necessity ofhaving to change the said 4

